Defeat on penalties

Match summary

From the outset, the crowd at the BayArena witnessed an intense encounter in which Leverkusen took the lead in the 11th minute through Victor Boniface. However, VfB provided the perfect response just four minutes later when Enzo Millot equalised following a wonderful assist from Maxi Mittelstädt.

Demirovic hits the woodwork

Sebastian Hoeneß’s charges remained thoroughly committed to the cause, winning 60 percent of all duels, and they almost took the lead in the 25^th minute, only for Ermedin Demirovic to see his effort strike the post.

Terrier sent off

Momentum swung further in VfB’s favour in the 37^th minute when Martin Terrier was shown a red card after a foul on Demirovic. Stuttgart immediately increased the pressure in a bid to make their numerical advantage count, but Millot could only hit the crossbar (42’) before Pascal Stenzel struck the post with a long-range effort (45’+1).

Instant impact

Leverkusen had the first chance in the second half, but Amine Adli narrowly missed the target from 11 yards out. Two supersubs, Frans Krätzig and Deniz Undav, combined in the 63^rd minute – just moments after entering the pitch – to put VfB in front, with Undav prodding in on the counter from Krätzig’s cross.

Late equaliser

As the final whistle drew closer, Leverkusen increased the pressure in their search for an equaliser, which they found through Patrik Schick in the 89th minute.

Shootout heartache

All of Leverkusen’s takers found the target in the shootout, while Krätzig and Silas missed from the spot, meaning the hosts were the ones to lift the 2024 Supercup at the end of the night.

Reaction

Sebastian Hoeneß: “The result is frustrating for us because we were in front until just before full time. Having said that, I was happy with my team for much of the match, but I also saw things we need to work on.”

Goals:

11^th minute: VfB struggle to clear their lines following a corner, allowing Alex Garcia to cross into the box from the left. Edmond Tapsoba heads his delivery goalwards and Boniface pokes the ball over the line.

15^th minute: Mittelstädt crosses low from the left into the centre, where Millot meets it first time and buries an unstoppable shot into the right-hand corner.

63^rd minute: VfB get forward at pace on the break. Krätzig crosses from the left into the middle and finds Undav, who nets his first goal of the season to put VfB 2-1 ahead.

88^th minute: Alejandro Grimaldo picks out the unmarked Schick, who levels the score late on.